NFL executives and scouts placed Ohio State linebacker/edge rusher Arvell Reese and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love ahead of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in a recent poll asking for the best overall prospect in the draft class. The survey, conducted by ESPN reporters during Senior Bowl and Super Bowl week, asked front office personnel to identify the top player regardless of position, revealing a significant split between the consensus No. 1 overall pick and the players some evaluators consider the most talented.
- Poll Results: Arvell Reese (Ohio State) received five votes, Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) received three votes, while Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and Caleb Downs (Ohio State) each received one vote.
- Consensus No. 1: Despite not topping the “best prospect” poll, Mendoza remains the near-unanimous projection for the Las Vegas Raiders at the first overall pick.
- Reese’s Versatility: The Ohio State defender is expected to be a top-five selection, with scouts praising his ability to become a three-down player at the next level.
- Love’s Production: Notre Dame’s running back has scored 35 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons and is projected as a top-ten pick.
- Historical Context: 21 quarterbacks have been selected first overall in the last 28 drafts, including seven of the last eight.
Fernando Mendoza, who led Indiana to a national championship and won the Heisman Trophy during a breakout season after transferring from Cal, is widely considered the QB1 in this class and the likely selection for the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 overall. However, the ESPN poll of eight NFL executives, coaches, and scouts showed that when asked to name the best prospect irrespective of position, the quarterback was not the top choice.
The results placed Reese firmly at the top with five votes, followed by Love with three, while Mendoza and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs each received one vote. “Never say never, but never,” one AFC executive said of the possibility of Las Vegas moving down from the top spot. That near-unanimous sentiment about Mendoza’s draft position exists even as some evaluators question his overall standing among the class’s elite talent.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, 21 quarterbacks have been selected first overall in the last 28 drafts, and seven of the last eight No. 1 picks have been quarterbacks. The league’s prioritization of the position continues to shape draft rooms, even when other prospects receive higher individual grades. As one NFC general manager put it, “I don’t see many, if any, scenarios where [Mendoza] doesn’t go No. 1, no matter where everybody is graded. There will be some grades a bit higher.”
For the latest prospect rankings and big board updates, visit ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage and official NFL Scouting Combine results at NFL.com/combine.
The Shifting Landscape of the NFL Draft
Explaining the ESPN Executive Poll
The ESPN survey, conducted anonymously to encourage honest evaluations, asked front office personnel to set aside positional value and simply identify the best football player in the draft class. The results underscore a growing sentiment among some evaluators that the gap between elite non-quarterback prospects and the top quarterback might be narrower than conventional draft wisdom suggests.
Reese’s five votes reflect his rare combination of physical tools and production at a premium defensive position. Love’s three votes signal that the running back position, while often devalued in modern NFL drafts, can still produce generational talent worthy of top consideration. Mendoza’s single vote—alongside Downs—indicates that while he’s the clear QB1, some executives view other players as superior talents when position is removed from the equation.
“The quarterback is always going to be the most important player on the field,” one veteran scout told ESPN. “But when you’re asking who’s the best football player, period, sometimes the answer isn’t the quarterback. That doesn’t mean he won’t go first. It just means there’s incredible talent elsewhere in this class.”
Why Arvell Reese Topped the List: A Versatile Playmaker
Arvell Reese’s position flexibility is the primary reason evaluators have placed him ahead of Mendoza in the “best player” conversation. The Ohio State defender has drawn comparisons to some of the NFL’s most impactful hybrid defenders, with scouts noting his ability to contribute both as a traditional linebacker and as an edge rusher. This versatility makes him an attractive option for teams seeking a defensive cornerstone who can stay on the field in all situations.
Scouting the Ohio State Linebacker/Edge Rusher
Reese’s combination of speed, power, and coverage ability makes him one of the more complete defenders available, and his five votes in the poll suggest evaluators see him as a potential cornerstone piece. He boasts excellent physicality and flexibility that should help him become a three-down defender in the NFL. At the next level, many project him to fill a role similar to players like Micah Parsons or Haason Reddick—impact defenders who can rush the passer, drop into coverage, and set the edge against the run.
What sets Reese apart from other defensive prospects in this class is his rare ability to affect the game from multiple alignments. Whether lined up as a stand-up edge rusher, a traditional off-ball linebacker, or even as a slot blitzer, Reese has shown the football IQ and athleticism to create disruption. His production against top competition, particularly in the Big Ten, has validated the film study that executives have conducted over the past two seasons. For a complete look at this year’s top draft-eligible players, check out the latest NFL draft rankings covering all positions.
According to Pro Football Focus, Reese graded above 85.0 in both pass-rush and coverage situations, a rare feat for a player who splits time between roles. His 12.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss over his final two seasons at Ohio State demonstrate his ability to impact the game behind the line of scrimmage, while his 3 interceptions and 8 pass breakups highlight his coverage chops.
| Player | Position | Poll Votes | Projected Range | NFL Player Comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvell Reese | LB/EDGE | 5 | Top 5 | Micah Parsons |
| Jeremiyah Love | RB | 3 | Top 10 | Jahmyr Gibbs |
| Fernando Mendoza | QB | 1 | No. 1 Overall | Joe Burrow |
| Caleb Downs | S | 1 | Top 15 | Minkah Fitzpatrick |
Jeremiyah Love: The Running Back Who Can Do It All
Jeremiyah Love’s three votes in the poll represent a remarkable achievement for a running back in an era where the position has been systematically devalued in draft rooms. The Notre Dame product has been the engine of the Fighting Irish offense, and his receiving ability has drawn comparisons to some of the NFL’s most dynamic dual-threat backs.
Comparing Love to Recent Elite RB Prospects
Love’s receiving ability sets him apart from traditional running back prospects and has drawn comparisons to recent elite backs like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs. Like Gibbs, Love possesses the route-running precision and soft hands to split out wide and create mismatches against linebackers and safeties. His 45 receptions for 612 yards and 6 touchdowns last season demonstrated his value as a passing-game weapon, not just a ball carrier.
What makes Love truly special is his combination of size and explosion. At 6’0″ and 215 pounds, he has the frame to handle a full workload between the tackles while maintaining the burst to reach the second level and break off chunk plays. His 35 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons rank among the most productive stretches in Notre Dame history.
Analysts have noted that Love’s game mirrors Gibbs more than Robinson due to his exceptional receiving skills and open-field elusiveness. However, Love may actually possess better between-the-tackles power than Gibbs, making him a more complete three-down option. One area where Love excels is his ability to make defenders miss in space—he forced 87 missed tackles on 278 carries last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
While running backs rarely go in the top five of modern drafts—only four have been selected that high since 2018—Love’s three votes from executives suggest he could be the exception. His production, versatility, and athletic profile make him a legitimate top-ten talent who could hear his name called earlier than many anticipate.
Fernando Mendoza: Still the QB1, But Questions Remain
Despite receiving only one vote in the “best prospect” poll, Fernando Mendoza’s draft stock remains unaffected among those who understand how NFL teams actually build rosters. The Indiana quarterback is universally considered the top signal-caller in the class and the overwhelming favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
What Mendoza Does Well and Where He Must Improve
Mendoza’s strengths are undeniable. He possesses elite arm strength, exceptional poise in the pocket, and the ability to process defenses quickly. His 4,250 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions in his final season at Indiana silenced any remaining doubters about his ability to perform against elite competition. His 72.4% completion rate ranked among the best in the country, and his performance in the national championship game—where he threw for 340 yards and 4 touchdowns against a top-five defense—cemented his legacy.
However, scouts have identified areas where Mendoza must continue to develop. His deep-ball accuracy, while improved, remains inconsistent compared to the elite tier of NFL quarterbacks. He completed just 52.3% of passes thrown over 30 yards, a number that must rise for him to consistently threaten defenses at the next level. Additionally, his footwork under pressure can become erratic, leading to occasional mechanical breakdowns that affect his accuracy.
Despite these concerns, Mendoza’s trajectory has been one of steady improvement since his transfer to Indiana. His development from a raw talent at Cal to a polished Heisman winner suggests that his weaknesses are correctable with NFL coaching. The Raiders, who have held the No. 1 pick all season, are expected to build their franchise around him.
Scout’s Notebook: “Mendoza has everything you want in a franchise quarterback—size, arm talent, intelligence, and leadership. But he needs to clean up his mechanics against pressure. The deep ball is the separator between good and great. If he fixes that, he’s a perennial Pro Bowler.” – Anonymous NFC Scout
What This Means for the Las Vegas Raiders
Evaluating Raiders’ Team Needs vs. Best Player Available
The Raiders’ decision at No. 1 overall appears straightforward on the surface—take the quarterback. But the executive poll adds an interesting layer to the conversation. If Arvell Reese and Jeremiyah Love are viewed by some as superior talents, should Las Vegas consider a trade down or a shock selection?
History suggests no. Quarterback remains the most important position in football, and the Raiders have been searching for a long-term answer at the position since the days of Rich Gannon. Mendoza represents the best quarterback prospect to enter the draft in several years, and passing on him would be a decision that could define a franchise for a decade.
Las Vegas currently has a roster with strong pieces on both sides of the ball—a young offensive line, a talented receiving corps, and an improving defense. What they lack is the centerpiece quarterback who can elevate everyone around him. Mendoza fits that profile perfectly, and his leadership qualities have been praised by every coach and teammate who has worked with him.
“You don’t overthink the quarterback position when you have a guy like Mendoza available,” one NFL general manager told ESPN. “You take him and figure out the rest later. That’s what the Raiders will do, and it’s the right call.”
The QB Class and Its Depth Beyond Mendoza
While Mendoza stands alone at the top of the quarterback board, the depth behind him is considered uneven compared to recent draft classes. Unlike the 2024 class, which featured multiple first-round caliber signal-callers, this year’s group drops off significantly after the top two or three names.
This lack of depth actually strengthens Mendoza’s position. Teams desperate for a quarterback have fewer alternative options, increasing the likelihood that the Raiders receive massive trade offers from quarterback-needy franchises. However, the Raiders have reportedly rebuffed all inquiries about the top pick, signaling their intention to select Mendoza.
The executives polled by ESPN were unanimous in their expectation that Mendoza goes first overall. This consensus, combined with the lack of elite alternatives at the position, means Mendoza’s draft position is perhaps the most certain outcome of the entire first round.
Impact of the NFL Scouting Combine on Final Rankings
The NFL Scouting Combine remains a pivotal event that could reshape the final draft rankings for all prospects, including Reese, Love, and Mendoza. While Mendoza’s pro day and combine performance will be heavily scrutinized, his game tape is considered robust enough that a poor combine showing would likely not damage his stock significantly. For Reese and Love, however, the combine offers an opportunity to validate their athletic testing and further separate themselves from the pack.
Reese is expected to post elite numbers in both the 40-yard dash and agility drills, which could solidify his top-five status. Love’s 40-time and receiving drills will be particularly important, as they will demonstrate his ability to separate from NFL-caliber defenders. Both players have the athletic profiles to excel in Indianapolis, potentially increasing their draft stock even further.
Historically, the combine has served as a tiebreaker between similarly graded prospects. Given the closeness in voting between Reese and Love, standout performances could shift the perception of who truly is the best player in the class. However, for Mendoza, the combine is more about confirming what teams already know—that he is the undeniable QB1.
As teams finalize their draft boards following pro days and private workouts, the conversation around draft value will continue to evolve. But one thing remains clear: while Reese and Love may have won the “best player” poll, Mendoza is the player who will change a franchise’s trajectory on draft day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Arvell Reese receive more votes than Fernando Mendoza?
Reese received more votes because the poll asked executives to identify the best player regardless of position, removing the usual quarterback premium. His versatility as both a linebacker and edge rusher, combined with elite athleticism, impressed evaluators who were judging pure talent rather than positional value.
Is Jeremiyah Love the best running back prospect in the class?
Yes, Love is widely considered the top running back in the class. His combination of size, speed, receiving ability, and production makes him a complete three-down back with the potential to be a top-ten pick, which is rare for the position in modern drafts.
Will Fernando Mendoza still be the No. 1 overall pick?
Yes, despite not winning the “best prospect” poll, Mendoza remains the consensus No. 1 overall pick. NFL teams prioritize quarterbacks above all other positions, and Mendoza’s combination of skills, production, and leadership make him the clear choice for the Las Vegas Raiders.
How does the quarterback class compare to recent years?
The quarterback class is considered top-heavy with Mendoza as the standout, but depth is lacking compared to recent classes like 2024. This strengthens Mendoza’s position as the unquestioned QB1 and makes it more likely the Raiders keep the pick rather than trading down.
What are Fernando Mendoza’s main weaknesses?
Scouts note inconsistency in Mendoza’s deep-ball accuracy and occasional mechanical breakdowns under pressure. While he improved significantly throughout his college career, these are areas he must continue developing to reach his full potential at the NFL level.
What do the Las Vegas Raiders need at quarterback?
The Raiders need a franchise quarterback who can lead the team for the next decade-plus. They have solid pieces around the position, including a young offensive line and talented receivers, but have lacked a long-term answer since Rich Gannon’s era. Mendoza is viewed as the solution.
